Blackburn & Darwen residents to get free sports & leisure facilities

[MargaretR]

TransDev are keen to buy up bus firms but then close operations on 'uneconomic' side street routes. They just want the longer routes on main roads between towns wher they can make a profit.

[andrewb]

It almost seems like they've been able to buy a monopoly here..

[MargaretR]

A monopoly = price rises.
It is about time the Monopolies Commission noticed

[g jones]

This is the old policy last year we worked up come to fruition, except in Blackburn. Personally I am really pleased for Blackburn. It's a great idea. We discussed with Hyndburn Officers and the Blackburn Chief Exec who works on contract for Hyndburn on strategic policy. Graham Burgess is an excellent officer btw.

The original Sports Pitches idea was the first 5% of this initiative. This is another 75% of that Policy. The press got all caught up in Clr Britcliffe's claims that it was his idea and the really important story/initiative got dropped. Virtually the whole policy was thrown out by Clr Britcliffe and Conservatives. Only the Sports Pitches etc.. was adopted. The argument against it 12 months ago was the PCT would not help fund it. Since then the policy has moved to Blackburn and they have got the PCT to help fund it. You win some you lose some.

Graham Burgess is always confident things can happen if you want them enough, and clearly he has gone out done it for Blackburn ovr the last 12 months after it didn't get off the ground here in Hyndburn. Good luck, he's a good guy. I am sure he would have like to have seen it taken it further at Hyndburn.

As part of it's launch (which the press didn't want to cover), Greg Pope got Richard Caborn (Sports Minister) to come up and talk it through with Labour Councillors. Richard's view was that Hyndburn District Council was talking rubbish and that PCT's had been given huge Sports Funding to partnership work this scheme, and that it was ridiculous what the District Council were saying.

I put this to Clr Britcliffe to try and get the scheme going and he just didn't want to know unless it was a 'Government short changing Hyndburn' story. It's why I get frustrated because ordinary people suffer. Richard Caborn went off telling all sorts of people what an exciting scheme Councillors had come up with here so it's no surprise it surfaced in Blackburn.

I notice Graham Burgess has suggested that Sports Development Officers should come out of Town Halls and work in Neighbourhood Office's. A key point in our plan. I was down Church last week banging this drum again. With all the red tape and insurance, time and effort, we have to help set up sports teams, recreational activities, particularly youngsters and those at risk of ill health through local neighbourhood office's if these things are to exist. If we are paying staff, we should be working with other agencies, and working in neighbourhoods and not central office's

This should have happened here in Hyndburn. There was another 20% of that Policy still out there that took it much further.

[g jones]

Originally Posted by Cyfr

It almost seems like they've been able to buy a monopoly here..

It is difficult to sustain a free market in public transport. Cameron identified this when he said "we have made ideological mistakes in the past]. I think we will end up with re-regulation as the cheapest most efficient, less cost to taxpayer option soon for buses and I think we need to work together, as seems the case, to ensure it works better than the free for all we have now.

[WalkOnBRFC]

Originally Posted by g jones

This is the old policy last year we worked up come to fruition, except in Blackburn. Personally I am really pleased for Blackburn. It's a great idea. We discussed with Hyndburn Officers and the Blackburn Chief Exec who works on contract for Hyndburn on strategic policy. Graham Burgess is an excellent officer btw.

The original Sports Pitches idea was the first 5% of this initiative. This is another 75% of that Policy. The press got all caught up in Clr Britcliffe's claims that it was his idea and the really important story/initiative got dropped. Virtually the whole policy was thrown out by Clr Britcliffe and Conservatives. Only the Sports Pitches etc.. was adopted. The argument against it 12 months ago was the PCT would not help fund it. Since then the policy has moved to Blackburn and they have got the PCT to help fund it. You win some you lose some.

Graham Burgess is always confident things can happen if you want them enough, and clearly he has gone out done it for Blackburn ovr the last 12 months after it didn't get off the ground here in Hyndburn. Good luck, he's a good guy. I am sure he would have like to have seen it taken it further at Hyndburn.

As part of it's launch (which the press didn't want to cover), Greg Pope got Richard Caborn (Sports Minister) to come up and talk it through with Labour Councillors. Richard's view was that Hyndburn District Council was talking rubbish and that PCT's had been given huge Sports Funding to partnership work this scheme, and that it was ridiculous what the District Council were saying.

I put this to Clr Britcliffe to try and get the scheme going and he just didn't want to know unless it was a 'Government short changing Hyndburn' story. It's why I get frustrated because ordinary people suffer. Richard Caborn went off telling all sorts of people what an exciting scheme Councillors had come up with here so it's no surprise it surfaced in Blackburn.

I notice Graham Burgess has suggested that Sports Development Officers should come out of Town Halls and work in Neighbourhood Office's. A key point in our plan. I was down Church last week banging this drum again. With all the red tape and insurance, time and effort, we have to help set up sports teams, recreational activities, particularly youngsters and those at risk of ill health through local neighbourhood office's if these things are to exist. If we are paying staff, we should be working with other agencies, and working in neighbourhoods and not central office's

This should have happened here in Hyndburn. There was another 20% of that Policy still out there that took it much further.

Well done.. does that mean I can go swimming free in Blackburn too or do you have to prove I'm a resident

[polly]

Originally Posted by g jones

It is difficult to sustain a free market in public transport. Cameron identified this when he said "we have made ideological mistakes in the past]. I think we will end up with re-regulation as the cheapest most efficient, less cost to taxpayer option soon for buses and I think we need to work together, as seems the case, to ensure it works better than the free for all we have now.

And why should something as basic as public transport be left to free market forces?

This issue has an effect on all our lives, even car users are affected by the increased pollution generated by even more cars.

Whilst I see the importance of sports facilities I would argue that the council should be allocating money to subsidising bus routes for all

[Neil]

There is a bit about this in the Council Leader section of this weeks Observer.

[Gayle]

I don't know whether to be most offended by the 'old' bit or by the 'friend' bit!

[slinky]

Did anyone just watch NORTHWEST TONIGHT?? lmfao

Oh what a show up for Blackburn

Reporter : So, do you think that tis will be a good idea for B/Burn?? and do you use these Facilities??

Chav : I don't any more, but I did when I was in prison

[lancsdave]

Originally Posted by slinky

Did anyone just watch NORTHWEST TONIGHT?? lmfao

Oh what a show up for Blackburn

Reporter : So, do you think that tis will be a good idea for B/Burn?? and do you use these Facilities??

Chav : I don't any more, but I did when I was in prison

I was always under the impression from people posting on here thats it's a nice town, no doubt we will be told he was a visitor

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Gayle

I don't know whether to be most offended by the 'old' bit or by the 'friend' bit!

Well I know you are old , its the other bit that made me laugh out loud and wake up everyone in the chemist where I was reading it.

Come to think of it your text not believing me was quite funny as well

[Neil]

Originally Posted by slinky

chav1 : I don't any more, but I did when I was in prison

He must have got out recently as he posted in his birthday thread

[slinky]

Originally Posted by Neil

He must have got out recently as he posted in his birthday thread

Nice change there Neil

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by Neil

Well I know you are old , its the other bit that made me laugh out loud and wake up everyone in the chemist where I was reading it.

Come to think of it your text not believing me was quite funny as well

Oy you! OLD!!!!!!!